Starting a business is a commitment and requires dedication, resources and sacrifice. We asked some of the rising stars in our community how they thought through the idea of starting their own businesses.

Simona Hradil | Sports Dietitian

I was an elite athlete in Taekwondo for several decades, an 11x time USA National Team Member, and an Olympic alternate for the Sydney Games in 2000. I also competed for the Czech Republic and was a 5x National Team Member and an alternate for the 2012 London Games. As Taekwondo is a weight-class sport, we learned numerous bad habits for cutting weight and losing large amounts of weight in short periods. I saw so many athletes develop disordered eating and eventually an eating disorder. I also saw so many young teen athletes forever change their relationship with food and their body image. As an elite athlete myself, I realized the important role nutrition played in my athletic career. After pursuing higher education in nutrition and dietetics and becoming a performance dietitian, I was given the opportunity to follow my passion and pay it forward by creating a private practice specializing in combat sports. My coach and mentor, Scott Fujii, and I co-founded FXP Athlete which stands for Fueling Xtreme Progression. FXP Athlete was started with the mission to help give back to athletes, especially young athletes in weight class sports, to show them a healthier way to fuel for their weight descents and ultimately fuel for performance. Read more>>

Shannon Meske | Lead Singer & Guitarist for “The Bettys”

As an artist, the general consensus is that one should be writing and performing their own music and anything other than that is a lesser form of art. We should all be songwriters paining over old journal entries, looking for any glimpse of inspiration. I think sometimes it’s easy to lose touch over what I really feel is the crux of being an artist, and that is creation. To me, creation is undefined, allowing an artist to do with it as they please. Another element of creation is play, which is another aspect of artistry that can often be lost to the “suffering artist” mindset. All this to say, is that as a singer/songwriter in Los Angeles, I had started getting to a point in my career that I couldn’t create any art without it being incredibly emotionally charged (usually in the negative sense). I was yearning for the feeling that inspired me when I first began to play the guitar and write my own music as a teenager. This is why I started “The Bettys,” my Taylor Swift cover band. Not only had I been a lifelong Swiftie, learning how to play her songs on my guitar are some of the earliest memories I have as a musician. I wanted to break out of typical ideals of my own views on performance and really give myself and my bandmates an avenue for something as simple as having a great time on stage, and giving the audience a fun time. That’s it. Read more>>

Brian Wong | Musician, Performer, Composer, Arranger, and Teacher. Also working as an Auto Mechanic.

Being a practitioner of a traditional art form that is foreign to most people in the United States, there is a lot of a feeling of wanting to blend in with the perception of the dominant culture. I grew up with a mother and grandmother, who were master musicians, performers, and teachers of Japanese music but there wasn’t always people around me that were interested in koto, shakuhachi, or shamisen. I was interested in other things as well, but my mother always would be performing in local festivals, writing music, teaching, or playing with her jazz band the Murasaki Ensemble. After a while, I realized as I gained experience and put more effort into practicing, writing music, arranging, and performing with other groups, that it was important for me to accept my own role and responsibility towards the music and people who would listen, learn about, and enjoy the music. There is so much a creative element instilled into me by a lot of my teachers and music community that encourages and appreciates being innovative, reaching out, trying new things, and being a self-starter. After a while, no one can push you to do things. You have to make choices to make time and build yourself up, a little at a time. Read more>>

Stephanie Renee Passley | Fashion Designer, Founder & Producer

Fueled by passion, opportunity, and a desire to make a difference. I founded The Fashion Diary a platform dedicated to empowering emerging designers, expanding to encompass other forms of art and style. Fashion has always been my profound passion. In 2007, I decided to follow my wildest dreams and did a fashion sales and public relations internship. This was supposed to be a test. However, this would be the birth of The Fashion Diary. Read more>>

Jo Mayari | Erotic Intimacy & Relationship Coach

I shared parts of this journey online to my audience and community and this telling of my story created a space for women to feel safe to open up the depths of their hearts to me in coaching conversations. My coaching shifted from wellness to life to the beginning of someone’s sexual empowerment journey. Out of my own principle of integrity, in 2021 I decided to get properly trained as a Tantric Sex and Relationship coach and blended that with my training somatic integrative therapy and out birthed a powerful new way to help people heal and be liberated from shame, fear, judgement, and trauma. I knew that I could hold space for people based on my past career experiences, but the arena of sex, love, and relationships are far too important in my eyes to take lightly. And a lot of people already feel broken in it, and I wanted to have the training to heal and hold space with reverence and integrity. Read more>>

Jared Neutel | CEO and Founder of Neutech, Inc.

What I believe sets Neutech apart is how we approach the culture and purpose of our business. We are the anti-agency agency. I like to think of Neutech as a sports team, particularly Rugby. We huddle and work together to move the ball forward all with the same purpose-driven mentality, contrary to American football–throwing and kicking the ball to different individuals who move it down the field individually. We’re all striving for the same goals–to provide world-class development, with world-class experts, who are obsessed with our clients’ success. We are always asking ourselves how best we can provide you with the most value. Read more>>

Marcus Chavez | Director & Producer

Tune in Tokyo was formed in 2008 by Greg Hignight and Del Martin. At the time the Los Angeles club scene had many different events focused on particular genres or communities. There was Frenchpop, Britpop, Goth night, Bollywood night and so on. At the time, we recognized two problems. All of these club events would happen on a different night of the month and there was a no space that was playing exclusively J-pop or K-pop. People would have to wait for that one night a month to enjoy specific events. After recognizing the climate, we decided to take advantage of the situation and launched “International Pop Conspiracy”. It was a night where we combined all of the popular events happening in LA nightlife under one roof with a focus on J-Pop and K-Pop. It was a success and after a year of parties we rebranded as “Tune in Tokyo”. After that we began producing events and themed nights in LA nightclubs, conventions, and private parties focused on J-pop and K-pop. We sought to provide a space to people seeking out these genres and to build a community through music education and entertainment. Read more>>

Richard Hurrey | Founder, Head of Product

I was ready to forge my own path, and take all I have learned over the years and create tools and educate other artists out on how to think about 3D character creation differently. I also knew running a business on my own would be difficult, and knowing my streagths and weaknesses, partnered with Peter McGowan and the Storland Studios group when we founded Ozone. Read more>>

Drew Tillman | Content Creator

After being laid off from my corporate job at the end of 2023, I immediately saw it as an opportunity to dive into content creation full-time. I’ve been passionate about making videos showcasing things to do in LA, and this transition allowed me to focus on that entirely. My motivation stems from a deep desire to highlight the beauty in the world around us and inspire others to see and appreciate it too. I believe that by showing people how vibrant and fascinating our surroundings can be, I can encourage them to step out and experience these wonders for themselves. Read more>>

Dina Richie | Beauty expert

I started Skin Rehab Beverly Hills because I’m passionate about helping women feel beautiful and confident. Over a decade, I immersed myself in the beauty industry and personally experienced numerous treatments available worldwide. My focus has always been on enhancing both beauty and wellbeing, believing that true beauty radiates from within. Drawing from my extensive experience, I’ve picked the most effective technologies from around the globe to bring to my clients. Skin Rehab Beverly Hills is the culmination of my journey, dedicated to providing transformative treatments that empower individuals to feel their best inside out. Read more>>

Jessica Shah | Paid Media Specialist & Blogger

I had thought about creating my blog The Desi Jess for about 2 years before I put it into action. I wanted to have a space to share my unfiltered thoughts and learnings throughout my 20’s. As a first-generation South Asian, I know firsthand that it’s difficult to practice the cultural expectations of both the Western and Eastern realms in our day-to-day lives. My main goal was to give back to a community of other young professionals in a creative and intentional manner. Read more>>

LIZ DUBELMAN | Book Marketer & Entrepreneur

I’ve always been in the entertainment business. I’ve worked in film, television, music, and publishing. I love books and of all the businesses I’ve worked in, publishing seemed the most ripe for reinvention. My impression is that the major publishers don’t understand they are vying for the same leisure time and income as any other activities. A person could choose to watch Netflix, play tennis, or read a book. So, it’s left to the author to market their own book. I knew I could help. I started my own business because I had a personal goal: make reading cool. Read more>>

Carlene Griffith | Actress, Author, and Entrepreneur

In 2010, with my oldest son about to finish his first year of kindergarten, two other little ones underfoot, and a husband who traveled for work, I foresaw a brutally hot, lonely summer trying to fill the days with low-cost activities to keep the kids busy and me sane. I had made enough friends through school, the neighborhood, and church that I could find kids for mine to play with. But I didn’t want to do playdates or trade babysitting as I had done before. I wanted to do something that gave me a sense of purpose, too. Read more>>

Blake Silva | Creator and Graphic Designer

What I love about this question is that I never made a goal of starting my own business or working for myself. I was working a corporate 9–5 job and ended up getting laid off, and the pieces fell in the right place. Of course, I had been hustling on the side creating content because I was so passionate about it, so it wasn’t like my full-time job as a creator was random. I just never DECIDED to make it my job; basically, I realized I was already doing it. I never aimed to be a full-time creator because I didn’t know if I would be able to make it work financially, and then when it hit me that I already was doing the work and seeing the results, it was an easy leap. It wasn’t even a leap, it was just a step in the direction my heart new was the right way to go. Read more>>

Ms. Brooke Parker Higgins | Founder, Creative Director and CEO of Ladies’ Life Guide.

I came to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the industry as a film and television actress and voice-over artist. The industry is known for not only being one of the most difficult industries in the world to get paid work but to have consistent paid work to make an actual living. Over the years, the film and television has changed drastically that even that 3% of those who have gotten worked in the past, they too were having trouble finding consistent (well) paid work. Read more>>

George Goodwin | Founder & Podcast Host

Growing up in a family business provided me with invaluable insights and skills that sparked my entrepreneurial journey. I saw firsthand the dedication, hard work, and innovation required to succeed in business. My thought process behind starting my own ventures, like co-founding a grocery software company and launching the ‘Grocery Pulse’ podcast, was driven by a passion for innovation and a desire to create solutions that make a meaningful impact. I wanted to leverage my experiences and skills to contribute to industries I’m passionate about, such as retail and technology. My family’s business taught me the importance of customer-centricity, operational excellence, and adaptability, which are foundational to my approach in entrepreneurship. Today, through Innovar Agency, I support multiple businesses by offering a full range of marketing and consulting services, aiming to empower them to achieve their growth and success goals. Read more>>

 Zofi Lipton | Ceramicist and Owner of Bushwick Ceramics

I opened Bushwick Ceramics, because I wanted to open my creative space to others; share not only the space but also ideas, techniques, opinions, etc. Read more>>

Naira Kandaurova (artistic name NairaDots)

I’ve been in tattoo industry for years… My husband Ilya Cascad is a world’s famous ornamental tattoo artist and I’ve been assisting him in his career since the very beginning.. Read more>>

Luiza and Vasily

From our early days in architectural school in Moscow to our time at SCI-Arc in Los Angeles, our passion for architecture and design has been a constant driving force. This passion goes beyond just making money; it’s deeply rooted in our minds and hearts. So, calling it a “business” doesn’t quite capture it. Read more>>

Kaveri Karhade

I always wanted to practice medicine in a way that allowed me to have the biggest impact on my patients, and I just haven’t been able to do that through traditional models. Starting my own practice was the only way. Read more>>

Caraline Sierota

I started working in the interior design industry ten years ago. I was fortunate enough to learn under some incredibly talented designers who gave me the opportunity to soak up all aspects of the industry. The dream of owning my own firm had been in my heart for a while, but it wasn’t until 2020 when the time felt right. My husband and I had just begun serving with an organization that provides short term hosting for children whose families are in crisis. Shortly after we started hosting children in our home, I landed some incredible clients and started my interiors firm. Having full control over my schedule allowed me to marry these two passions – creating a culture of hospitality, beauty and artistry for my clients and team, and also in my own home for the incredible children who we had the privilege to host. Read more>>

Bekah Marie

Fresh out of high school I knew I wanted a career I truly enjoyed, but nothing seemed to fit. I wasn’t happy with where it seemed my life would head. So I started thinking about what I enjoy doing and realized I always loved taking photos with my moms camera, and capturing cool images. One of my best friends was majoring in photography at the time, so I started asking questions and talking to her about how to make a career doing that! Read more>>

Sara Alamir

To begin with, I truly wanted to spark something in my life, which is why I launched this company during the COVID-19 pandemic. One day, I sat down and considered what my age group audience would enjoy on clothes and what may the meaning of the name be. Then, since I was 17 at the time and mood swings are a common known thing for teenagers, I decided to turn it into something positive for my community. Something bright, bubbly, and colorful. We can all have terrible days, but beautiful days also come after, thus I came up with the motto “Frown Less, Smile More” to reflect on this. What should the real brand name be, I wondered then? and looked through other names and options. I loved the word UMORE, which is Italian for “moods,” so I combined it with WEAR to create UMOREWEAR. Then started to make the logo, which was a smiley face mixed with a sad face. I truly wanted to show to people that, despite being in this difficult stage of life, we can all choose to see the bright side of things and try to smile more and frown less. Read more>>

Kathleen Rose Reyes

When I was working as an RN for San Francisco Department of Public Health during the pandemic, I had a breakdown moment in late 2020. I was burnt out as a nurse and I remember sitting in in my car frozen by fear, not being able to leave for work. Because of the strict regulations for shelter in place ordinances, there was a heightened trend in indoor plant collecting. People needed a breath of life and plants provided a source of hope for many, especially myself. I had always been a plant enthusiast and collector even before the pandemic and it delighted me to see the growing interest of others for plant parenthood. I mean, who could blame them? People were stuck indoors and as humans, you yearn to be connected to earth or a piece of nature somehow. Read more>>  

Dishi Solanki

I was born and raised in India. Coming from a low-income family, we only celebrated on special occasions like birthdays. I had an extraordinary birthday ritual growing up. It would be buying raw materials at a local garment shop to rough sketch my designs for the neighborhood tailor to bring them to life. My birthday dress was a labor of love! Sadly, shopping malls came to town, & the ritual stopped. Scarcity experiences growing up concerning our buying power as a family discouraged me a lot. I moved to the US for my master’s, cut my teeth in tech startups, & devoured fast fashion. That was until 2021 when my skin broke into hives with no prior history. My buying choices began taking a toll on my health, & soon realized that I was wearing hazardous waste from fast fashion brands. Read more>>

Alex Francoeur

I have been a professional dancer for over 14 years, traveling across Canada, the USA, and Paris to elevate my craft. After these experiences, I decided to base myself in Montreal to pursue my journey. Building a career in dance made me feel like all my achievements were solely about me, and I felt a strong need to give back to the community. I wanted to share the tools I had gained and especially bring the community together. Read more>>